FIFA is preparing adjustments world cup Yellow card rules to ensure fewer players are suspended from important elimination games in North America.
A source familiar with the plan told The Associated Press that an additional amnesty for yellow cards, which would erase players’ disciplinary records twice during expansion competitions, will be proposed at Tuesday’s FIFA executive board meeting. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision has not yet been formalized.
At the World Cup, a player must receive a one-match suspension if shown a yellow card in two different matches, but in previous tournaments this was canceled at the quarter-final stage.
This ensured that no player would be suspended and miss the final just for receiving a yellow card in the semi-final.
The expansion of the World Cup format to 48 teams and the addition of a round of 32 knockout stage led to an overhaul of FIFA aimed at keeping players on the field.
FIFA has proposed canceling the disciplinary records of players with one yellow card after three group stage matches and starting a new knockout phase.
The second amnesty after the quarterfinals will apply to players who have received one yellow in the past three finals tournaments and whose teams have advanced to the semifinals.
The World Cup will be held from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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